Han Li coldly watched the giant demon approach step by step, his face showing no trace of emotion.
As soon as the creature came a little closer, entering the effective range of his sword formation, he would mercilessly activate the Great Geng Sword Formation and annihilate both demons in one fell swoop.
But at that moment, a flash of red light appeared in the distant sky, accompanied by a sharp screech.
Three clusters of bloody light emerged from the darkness, transforming into three crimson streaks that shot toward them at incredible speed.
Upon seeing this, the dwarf’s expression changed drastically. He tapped the wooden demon’s head with his cane once more and turned to gaze at the crimson streaks, his face filled with uncertainty and alarm.
With a few dull thuds, the Emerald Wood Demon abruptly halted its steps, stopping precisely at the edge of the Great Geng Sword Formation.
Han Li frowned slightly, but as new developments unfolded, he ignored it and turned his gaze toward the distant sky.
Bai Bi and the other two also grew uneasy, unsure what new demonic entities had appeared.
The three crimson streaks moved with eerie speed, arriving in the nearby sky in the blink of an eye. The light dissipated, revealing three blood-red figures, each about a foot tall.
Each figure had delicate, ageless features, clad in peculiar crimson armor inscribed with dense, intricate runes. Their skin was a vivid red, exuding a nauseating stench of blood.
Their emotionless eyes swept downward in unison before finally locking onto Han Li with a strange glint.
Han Li’s pupils contracted as a chill surged up his spine, spreading throughout his body—it felt as if he had been pinned down by three venomous snakes.
“Blood Puppets! They’re the avatars of Lord Earthblood!” The dwarf paled instantly upon recognizing the figures, his eyes filled with reverence.
“Blood Puppets? Earthblood?” Han Li’s mind raced, but he had no recollection of these names, leaving him puzzled.
After scrutinizing Han Li for a moment, the three figures suddenly flashed with malice and simultaneously opened their mouths, spewing three crimson beams that vanished in a flash before reappearing right in front of Han Li.
Though Han Li had been on guard, he was still shocked and enraged by the sudden attack.
Without hesitation, he raised his arm, summoning a gray mist before him. At the same time, black energy surged from his body, forming a set of ancient, dark armor.
*Thud! Thud! Thud!*
The three crimson beams pierced through the magnetic light—which was supposed to counter all five elements—with only slight resistance before striking the black armor.
After flickering violently, the beams weakened but still tore three bowl-sized holes through the armor, slamming directly into Han Li’s chest.
Lei Lan and the others nearby turned deathly pale, but what happened next left them stunned.
A thunderous roar erupted from Han Li’s chest as the crimson beams clashed with arcs of gold and silver lightning before vanishing without a trace.
The attack had been blocked by Han Li’s lightning robe.
Even so, Han Li was startled, his expression darkening. With a cold snort, the three holes in his armor rapidly mended as black energy swirled around them.
Had the armor not absorbed most of the attack’s force, even the lightning robe might not have withstood it.
Seeing their attack fail, the three Blood Puppets remained expressionless. Blood-red wings sprouted from their backs, and with a single flap, they vanished into thin air.
Han Li’s heart clenched, but before he could react, spatial fluctuations rippled around him as the three figures reappeared nearby.
Their hands blurred, summoning two crimson blades each. With a slash, three crescent-shaped blood-red arcs shot toward Han Li, completely ignoring Lei Lan and the others.
These Blood Puppets contained a trace of the Blood Robe’s consciousness and could discern that Han Li was the only real threat. Eliminating him would render the rest helpless.
With an angry shout, Han Li’s wings trembled, and he vanished in a burst of thunder.
A moment later, a blue-white lightning arc flashed in the air twenty yards away, revealing Han Li once more.
But almost simultaneously, crimson light flickered in three directions as the puppets reappeared, launching a flurry of blood-red slashes that enveloped Han Li.
Han Li’s face darkened. Golden light shimmered across his skin as scales emerged, and with a roar, his black-and-white palms struck out, forming a chaotic blur of palm shadows.
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
The six crimson blades shattered upon impact, unable to withstand the overwhelming force. The three puppets were sent flying backward, tumbling several yards before stabilizing.
When they looked up again, they froze—Han Li was gone.
In that split second, Han Li had teleported once more, returning to the spirit carriage.
Seeing the three figures finally locate him, Han Li smirked and swiftly formed hand seals, chanting under his breath.
A chorus of clear chimes rang out as golden threads materialized from the void, converging from all directions to encircle the three puppets.
Han Li had activated the Great Geng Sword Formation he had prepared earlier.
The formation’s power had grown alongside his cultivation. Though the golden threads still moved slowly compared to true speed, they were far faster than before.
The Blood Puppets’ eyes flickered with crimson light before their wings flapped, attempting to teleport out of the formation.
But the Great Geng Sword Formation was not so easily escaped.
At the edges of the formation, hundreds of golden threads vibrated before slicing through the void.
Crimson light flashed as the three figures were forced back into visibility. The threads closed in, shredding them into countless fragments.
Lei Lan and the others, as well as the distant dwarf, were dumbfounded.
The dwarf quickly snapped out of it and, using some unknown method, made the wooden demon beneath him retreat silently.
Having witnessed the terrifying power of the Blood Puppets—three of them being effortlessly annihilated—he no longer dared to covet the leopard-lynx beast.
But then, something bizarre occurred within the sword formation.
The puppet fragments, resembling wood shavings, suddenly melted into droplets of blood under a crimson glow. The droplets merged into three fist-sized blood orbs, exuding a thick, metallic stench.
As the orbs spun, limbs and heads began to form—the puppets were regenerating.
Instead of panicking, Han Li’s expression turned peculiar. He lightly pointed toward the formation.
*Whoosh!*
A silver firebird emerged from the void within the formation before exploding into three smaller flames, each landing near a blood orb.
*Thud! Thud! Thud!*
The silver flames engulfed the orbs, emitting a charred stench as agonized shrieks erupted from within.
The three flames thrashed wildly within the formation like headless flies.
Han Li observed impassively, though inwardly surprised.
His Spirit Devouring Heavenly Flame was potent enough to reduce most foes to ashes upon contact. Yet these puppets endured.
Still, the flames were relentless. Soon, the screams faded, and the blood orbs were incinerated completely.
This time, the Blood Puppets were truly destroyed.
Han Li beckoned, and the three flames merged back into the silver firebird, which flew into his sleeve and vanished.
But then, his expression shifted as he sensed something and turned his head.
The massive Emerald Wood Demon had retreated hundreds of yards away. When the dwarf noticed Han Li’s gaze, his heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively blew a sharp whistle.
The previously silent wooden demon suddenly flared with green light and bolted back the way it came.
Despite its size, it vanished into the darkness in just a few strides.
“Trying to escape?” Han Li muttered. He opened his mouth, and a small cauldron wrapped in azure light shot forth—the Void Heaven Cauldron!
But at that moment, a weak beastly roar came from beneath the spirit carriage.
Hearing this, Han Li’s heart leaped with joy. He glanced at the direction where the wooden demon had fled, hesitated briefly, then recalled the cauldron.
His figure blurred as he vanished from the carriage, reappearing moments later beside the glowing white light on the ground.
The fragrance from the light had nearly dissipated.
Through their spiritual connection, Han Li sensed that the leopard-lynx beast was on the verge of completing its evolution—and needed his help for the final push.
Taking a deep breath, he plunged his hand into the light, pressing it against the small beast’s body.
A surge of pure spiritual energy poured into the creature.
Han Li’s body radiated azure light as his expression turned solemn.
Meanwhile, Lei Lan, Bai Bi, and the others on the spirit carriage exhaled in relief, exchanging glances of reassurance.
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